Monster Tactics (Throwback) - Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game | MESBG

[@chikkynuggy7522]

My strategy with monsters is basically: me has monster, me sees unit formation with small or nonexistent heroes, me crashes monster into formation

[@sebastiencarrieres8825]

Why do I usually bring a Mordor troll to my games? I'm proud of the paint job and I have fun with my friends.

[@CreativeWoff]

totally agree. everytime i've played a mordor troll the troll has failed to win enough fights and failed to devastate the enemy. heck, one time a cave troll entered play and boromir slew it in one turn - lols.

[@judgejudyandexecutioner.5223]

For warrior monsters I think a low opportunity cost helps. I'd rather have an ogre or cave troll than an Isengard troll, because you're not crying if it gets flash killed, but that upside of 'maybe this monster kills 6-8 guys and gets a sweet hurl or barge off that changes the game' still exists. Secondly, as mentioned, low points games. I did great last year at a 500pt tournament with an Isengard troll. It bullied 2 of my enemies and absorbed lots of shooting, and then got a crazy hurl off in game 3. Protecting your monsters flank can limit its hurl opportunities, but will also stop a hero and 3/4 guys from being able to flash kill you. As for hero monsters, yeah, having those crazy extra rules like the watchers ability to just hit a single hero with d6 shots, and then massacre him by pulling them into base contact with himself and a bat means they feel either unfair, or almost as useless as a warrior monster if they DON'T have crazy speed or a crazy rule.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Great point! The more the monsters points the more it's a "risk"! Even the best ones like Gulavhar and the Watcher can lose you games due to dice variance. Ogres and cave trolls flopping puts you on the back foot but not necessarily an instant loss! -Richard

[@tomyp9119]

Great podcast. Very informative. Definitely will listen more. Thank you for your content

[@intothewestpodcast]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@giovdb]

I wanted to make a correction to this video in regards to Sorcerous Blast. What was said is wrong per the FAQ. If the combat in which a monster is involved in a fight gets blasted, the monster WOULD be knocked prone. They don’t get knocked down if a blasted model hits them, but they do get knocked down if the combat they are in gets blasted.

[@intothewestpodcast]

You’re right about the FAQ on blasting a model into combat, all models would be prone. However, if you blast a model directly into a model S6 or higher, the model S6 or higher would not be prone, as per the rules manual. -Charles

[@giovdb]

@@intothewestpodcast Right. But I believe the guy in the video said that you can combo by having the troll charge, then blasting into combat, having everyone prone except troll. Maybe I misunderstood him, but I believe that statement is inaccurate. Not trying to knit pick, as I really appreciate this content, but I’m trying to figure out if I’m perhaps doing something wrong.

[@intothewestpodcast]

You are correct, that was a mistake, I don't think there's a way to blast into a combat and only have the troll standing. I think he may have been confusing it with the Hurl mechanic. Good point out, we always appreciate a correction if we do get something wrong! -Richard

[@smoothbrush4722]

Nice monster strategies

[@xGREEKxTEAMxYUGIOHx]

Nice episode !!! Keep going

[@intothewestpodcast]

Thank you!

[@a.michaeld4981]

I think a solid fact and point, your army is small most of the time playing 500points-850points and is in this game you need big hitters. It’s a lot scarier to lose that big hitter when he is one of “let’s say 3” of your Leaders/Monsters My friend plays 40k on the PC and the armies are huge. The more you have the better it is to have strong units among them. But MEBSG when you play a game.. you lose 2 trolls or half your army after turn 6 if you fight for 4 turns vs strong bows like Elves. it’s hard to keep units alive. Luck of the dice sometimes.

[@intothewestpodcast]

100% agree and that's why the cave troll and ogre are the more "viable" options due to the proportionally less points costs!

[@PMMagro]

I think mosters should have a minimum roll in battle like 2+ or for the biggest monsters 3+, meaning if you roll lower it's that number or you opt to re-roll one or all such dice (banner-like)?

[@intothewestpodcast]

Interesting take!

[@giovdb]

Awesome insights, but you guys don’t seem to take into consideration that Isengard and Mordor both have access to magic, so the enemy heroes can be prevented from Heroic Striking against the troll. I believe troll + magic can be quite strong

[@intothewestpodcast]

Appreciate your input! True, you can combine magic with monsters to make them more effective, however we think the points cost of pulling off these combos in many cases could be spent elsewhere more efficiently. -Charles

[@nedmerrick9140]

The Watcher can shoot tentacles after moving full, its in FAQ.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Yep, we are aware :) this episode came out before the FAQ (throwback episode). It's such a big boost as a Watcher player, the 10" threat range is amazing! -Richard

[@TheFlashman]

I can't help but wonder if Trolls with spears are more survivable against heroes. For a start spears would allow you to keep the monster in fights by supporting and contributing their higher fight yet not risking a hero with strike. The hero then has a rubbish decision to make, strike up against grunts or risk losing the fight, but even if they win they can only kill a grunt and they can't heroic combat.

[@intothewestpodcast]

That’s a tactic worth shouting out. We discuss this in a bit more detail in our Cave Troll episode (S1E4). Thanks for your comment! -Charles

[@adammc8107]

Perhaps, but then you can only contribute one attack if a Troll is supporting with a spear. Not sure if called out, but I feel monstrous actions should not be possible if only supporting.

[@justinfanter3620]

Monster cool, I take

[@pWndConan]

Angmar and Gûlavhar all the way ;)

[@TheBronf]

i dont agree. if you are playing with a non hero monster you should be also adding another hero or unit that would be able to support it. barrow whites, ringwraiths ect to prevent it from just simply bieng killed by a hero with strike something you would be doing regardless if you had a monster or not when playing armies that have those options. and how are you getting your monster killed turn 2? iv never had a monster die that fast.

[@trojanhatchet8204]

Wouldn't the same logic apply to expensive heroes

[@intothewestpodcast]

In some ways yes, a lot of the heroes above 215 points are not the most competitive picks but they are still more viable than non-hero monsters due to them having Might to still impact the game in other ways, as well as a bit of Will to resist Magic.

[@DarkhorseOldWorlders]

Strong disagree with putting monsters with no might into Characters (especially those with strike), they just lose the fight most times which completely nullifies them and ends up getting them killed 🤷

[@intothewestpodcast]

Yeah it really depends on if they have Strike, definitely can't be going into a big hero that has or can get higher fight value. I'd be happy to have a cave troll go against a mid level hero like Mauhur! -Richard